Scientific Research

Research on Homeopathy Part 32

Homeopath Robert Medhurst presents part 32 in his important series on research in homeopathy.

If you follow this journal you may have noticed homeopathic research summaries in previous issues. As a means of keeping you informed in this area, following are discussions on more of the good work that’s been done in this area.

 

Human Research

  1. opiumAdler UC, et al. Homeopathic potencies of Opium in alcohol dependence: exploratory open-label study. Int J High Dilution Res, 2012, 11, 38, 19-24. A Brazilian research team investigated the possibility of using homeopathically prepared Opium to treat people suffering from alcoholism. To do this, 12 people diagnosed with this complaint were given Opium 50M and assessed via the Short Alcohol Dependence Data questionnaire and voluntary alcohol consumption. The test intervention was associated with a significant reduction in the average daily alcohol consumption (-29.37 units of alcohol/day; 95% CI=10.63; 48.11) and in the severity of alcohol dependence, measured by the mean score of the Short Alcohol Dependence Data questionnaire (-10.17; 95% CI= 4.12; 16.22).

 

  1. Oberai P, et al. Homoeopathic management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A randomised placebo-controlled pilot trial. Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy, 2013, 7, 4, 158-167. This work was designed to compare the effects of individualised homeopathy with placebo, in 6-15 year old children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD. 54 children were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or homeopathic treatment using LM potency medicines for 12 months, and monitored using Conner’s Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Short, the Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-SS), Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale (CGI-IS) and academic performance. When compared to the assessment at baseline, after 12 months of treatment, the homeopathic intervention was associated with a statistically significant improvement in all areas.

 

  1. Oberai P, et al. Homoeopathic management in depressive episodes: A prospective, unicentric, non-comparative, open-label observational study. Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy, 2013, 7, 3, 116-125. This Indian research looked at the effects of individualised homeopathic prescriptions for depression. 67 people suffering from clinically confirmed depression were treated for a period of 12 months, with assessment made at baseline, during and at the end of the treatment period using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and the Clinical Global Impression scale for the purpose of assessment. Data analysis was done as per the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle using SPSS statistics package version 20. All measures showed statistically significant improvements in depression from the baseline assessment to the end of treatment.

 

  1. Saha S, et al. Individualized homoeopathy versus placebo in essential hypertension: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy, 2013, 7, 2, 62-71. The Indian government’s Central Council for Research in Homeopathy coordinated this study on hypertension and whether or not homeopathic treatment could produce any improvement in it. To do this, the research team devised a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial design enrolling 132 people with clinically confirmed hypertension. These people were assigned to receive either placebo or individually prescribed homeopathy for 6 months and assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months. On analysis at 6 months it was shown that the mean systolic blood pressure reduction was 26.6 mm Hg (95% CI 21.5, 31.7) in the homoeopathy group and this increased by 3.6 mm Hg (95% CI -8.7, 1.5) in the placebo group. It was also shown that the mean diastolic blood pressure in the homeopathy group reduced by 11.8 mm Hg (95% CI 9.2, 14.4) and increased by 1.6 mm Hg (95% CI -3.6, 0.4) in the placebo group.

 

  1. Chakraborty PS, et al. Effect of homoeopathic LM potencies in acute attacks of haemorrhoidal disease: A multicentric randomized single-blind placebo-controlled trial. Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy, 2013, 7, 2, 72-80. This Indian report records the results of individualised homeopathic intervention for people suffering from haemorrhoids. Six different clinics overseen by the Indian Central Council for Homeopathic Research enrolled 278 people suffering from the symptoms of haemorrhoids to receive either homeopathic therapy or placebo, for a period of 90 days. During this period they were monitored for bleeding, pain, heaviness, itching and quality of life. On analysis of the results it was shown that, compared to placebo, the use of homeopathy was associated in a statistically significant reduction in all of the parameters measured and a significant improvement in quality of life.

 

  1. Chakraborty PS, et al. Effect of individualized homoeopathic treatment in influenza like illness: A multicenter, single blind, randomized, placebo controlled study. Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy, 2013, 7, 1, 22-30. In more Indian research, a team coordinated by the Indian Central Council for Homeopathic Research looked into the possible benefits for influenza sufferers of individualised homeopathy. They looked at the rate of development to post-influenza complications and compared the effects of LM to centesimal (C) homeopathic potencies in the relief of influenza. Nine clinical centres were involved in the trial and 447 people clinically diagnosed with influenza were randomly assigned to receive placebo, or individualised homeopathic prescriptions in C or LM potencies for 10 days. In response, there was a significant difference in temperature from 2nd day onwards in the LM and C groups. The significant improvement was observed in headache and myalgia on the 1st day in both the treatment groups. Likewise, significant improvement was noted in malaise on 2nd day in both the groups; sore throat on 1st day in LM and 2 nd day in C group; fatigue on 2nd day in LM and on 3rd day in C group; nasal complaints on 2nd day in LM and 1 st day in C group; chill on 3rd day in LM group and 1st day in C group and in sweat on 1st day in both treatment groups. Cough improved significantly from 3rd day in both the groups. No statistically significant improvement was seen in the placebo group.

 

  1. Launso L, et al. An exploratory retrospective study of people suffering from hypersensitivity illnesses who attend medical or classical homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy, 2006, 95, 2,:73-80. This study reports the results of orthodox medical treatment compared to the homeopathic treatment of various hypersensitivity illnesses in 88 people. 34 of these people were treated using orthodox medical means and 54 using constitutional homeopathy. 24% of those treated medically experienced an improvement in their condition while 57% of those treated with homeopathy experienced similar relief.

 

Animal Research

  1. Magnani P, et al. Dose-effect study of Gelsemium sempervirens in high dilutions on anxiety-related responses in mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 2010, 210, 4, 533-45. Researchers from the University of Verona in Italy carried out this trial on mice to determine whether or not any of five homeopathically potentised preparations of Gelsemium could influence the generation of anxiety. Mice were exposed to Gelsemium 4C, 5C, 7C, 9C and 30C, a positive control substance (Buspirone) or a negative control (the solvent used to produce the Gelsemium potencies) and then challenged with potentially anxiety generating situations, these being open-field tests and light-dark tests. While Gelsemium had little effect on the mice in the open-field test, it did produce a statistically significant reduction in anxiety associated with the light-dark test that was comparable to the effect produced by Buspirone, particularly the Gelsemium preparations potentised to 5C, 9C and 30C.

 

  1. Zubedat S, et al. Plant-derived nanoparticle treatment with cocc 30c ameliorates attention and motor abilities in sleep-deprived rats. Neuroscience. 2013 Dec 3, 253, 1-8. This was a 4-arm trial with randomisation and double-blinding of verum and placebo treatments designed to test the effects of homeopathically prepared Cocculus 30C on the outcomes of sleep deprivation in rats. Sleep deprivation was induced for 48 hours and its behavioural and hormonal effects monitored at 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 14 days post sleep deprivation. Cocculus 30C was administrated orally every three hours starting immediately after baseline tests and for a period of 24 hours. On day 14, blood samples were taken and serum levels of corticosterone, testosterone, serotonin and leptin were assayed. It was found that when compared to placebo, Cocculus 30C improved all of the sleep deprivation factors measured.

 

In-Vitro Research

  1. Chakraborty I, et al. High dilutions of homeopathic remedies induce relaxation of rat aorta precontracted with Noradrenalin. Int J High Dilution Res, 2013, 12, 43, 44-51. Indian researchers looked at the effects of homeopathically prepared Aurum metallicum 30C and Lycopus virginicus 30C on the isolated aorta of rats in an effort to determine the possible effectiveness of these medicines in the management of hypertension. Isolated rings of aortic tissue were fixed in fluid and attached to a computer-monitored isometric transducer and then precontracted using noradrenalin. They were then exposed to the homeopathically prepared materials or a control substance and assessed for their extent of relaxation. The results showed that when compared to the control, both medicines produced significant relaxation of the aortic strips.

About the author

Robert Medhurst

Robert Medhurst BNat DHom DBM DRM DNutr is an Australian Naturopath & Homeopath with 40 years of clinical experience. He has written many articles and lectured on homeopathy throughout Australia and the U.S. Robert previously set up and operated 5 natural therapies practices in Sydney and Adelaide and was involved in teaching and medical research. He was formerly the Expert Advisor on Homeopathy to the Federal Government of Australia, Dept. of Health & Ageing. He specialises in homeopathy and is the author of The Business of Healing, the definitive guide for clinical practice establishment and management, as well as The Concordant Clinical Homeopathic Repertory. For more information see adelaidehillsnaturopath.com.au.

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